Along the Highway

News and Comments

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1955 License Plates

11/15/09:
Martin M. Cassidy's recent papers on carbon dioxide at the University of Houston's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences have been well received. "Much time is taken up with the AAPG Publication Pipeline, a project to move donated Earth Science publications to universities and libraries overseas. We are now sending 20 pallets (1200 lbs. each) to Nigeria from 10 different libraries."

Malcolm Davis traveled to Santa Fe recently to see the house he designed become a reality. While there, he and Faith visited with Bill Field at his museum and Ron Miller, who was also in Santa Fe at the time.

"Still working (somewhat less than full time), as I enjoy it!"
John Gaffney.

Paul Ephross notes that "Now that I am officially retired from the University of Maryland, I am keeping busy with a) practicing psychotherapy privately, for individuals and couples, b) editing the third edition of a co-authored book on group therapy, c) playing the piano, and d) aging. See you in October!"

In his online Flaherty Special Situations Newsletter Bob Flaherty recently wrote an expose "The Invisible Man" , raising the issue of inadequate disclosure for everyday readers and investors by ETF IPOs, websites, online financial education platforms, investor associations and other ventures. At 76, Bob is happy to be healthy and still able to serve readers for a litttle while longer. He is looking forward to seeing all you survivors at our 55th! "Be well and be happy and enjoy each day."

Joanna Koehler Fisher is a semi retired journalist. She wrote a column for a small weekly for 18 years and wrote and published one small book.
She has been married to Lindsay Edwards Fisher H'56, for 53 years. "He still practices law in Colorado Springs.We have 3 children and 7 grandchildren spread between Toronto, Canada, New York City, and Capetown South Africa."

"Our lives a presently dominated by my wife Janet's battle against breast cancer. She has about three months of chemo left. We hope the good prognosis of the Hutchinson Center's doctors is realized."
Hubie Gellert

Maurice Goretsky lists his occupation as "Impotent depressed observer of the destruction of the most noblest experiment in civilization."

Ted Hersh and his wife continue to work in their healhcare company. "We hope to see you at our 55th Reunion."

David James came in third in last August 29th Duke Kahanamoku One Mile Ocean Swim at Waikiki in the men's 70 and over division. "I would have been first if they had a 75 and over division, or a division for Harvard grads (assuming Alan Rapperport stayed home.)"

Dick Koch lists his address as 81b Connemara Circle in Venice Florida 34292.

Bill Lawrence has moved to 80 Deaconess Rd. Suite 433, in Concord, MA 01742.

"Retired!! --Not much change--life goes on. We seem to have good health. Still travel --still ski--and continue to attend funerals. Call if you're in the Rhode Island area."
Rob Leeson

Audry McKenna Lynch is hard at work on her fourth book about John Steinbeck.

Howard McElroy reports that he recently spent a delightful time touring Bucks County with Dick Burgheim.

Ed Nef recently produced a documentary on "Vietnam-The Reconciliation." It will be shown on National TV in Vietnam. He was also presented with a medal and Parliamentary Proclamation by the president of Mongolia for his "contribution to education."

Alan Novick was seen recently in Harvard Stadium at the 90th Reunion of the Harvard University Band. He was there along with Bob Blacklow.
Bob is chairing the 55th Reunion and Alan is looking forward to it.

James Norris Robertson is retired but still a 7 term member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. He writes, "We passed a bill legalizing same gender marriage and one to legalize marijuana for medical use. We meet now to override the governor's veto." The Robertsons have moved from a 21 acre, 13 room 3 storied home with barn, etc. to one floor living. "My wife needed the change and she loves it; I'm still feeling like I'm in a very nice motel!!"

"Life on the Cape is great especially now, in the fall. Either I am shrinking or my grandchildren sprouting; two are taller than I am."
Pete Watson "Professional Grouch."

10/04/09:
The class extends its sympathy to Frank Molloy and wishes him well with his battle with cancer of the esophagus. Classmates who may wish to call him can reach him at home, 781-326-7080.

09/22/09:
Gordon Graham writes, "I got your whole Oct 2010 Reunion package and have sent all back with high hopes of being there. I was also delighted to read that Rashi Fein, PhD (not MD!) will be speaking at the class's October luncheon in Boston. Do please pass on my very best to Rashi who has recently become a good friend.
My late wife Barbara closed out her working career as Rashi's secretary and editor olf his "Medical Care/Medical Costs". When Barbara died three years back, Rashi at 82, insisted on flying over to Ireland to read the Hebrew Micah Lesson in her ecumenical/interfaith funeral service. I had picked the Lesson and on arrival, confided to me that his own uncle had indeed done the more recent RSV translation from the ancient Hebrew. As he left the lectern he almost lost his balance, almost falling. He confessed to me the next summer at lunch in Boston that the words that came to him which he managed to suppress were "Jesus Christ!". A lovely man. America, Harvard and now the Class of '55 are fortunate to have him. Give him my very best.

Judy Bailey Reed's daughter Diana just moved to Chicago where her husband will be an assistant professor at Northwestern. Judy plans some long visits there. She also writes, " in December I am delighted to be joining 'The Nation" Caribbean cruise as a guest of my daughter Betsy, Executive Editor."

09/14/09:
Terry Crook writes "just finished scanning our website! It's AWESOME but then so of course it would be! 'Not just a good idea, it's the limit.'
Don't know how long it's been up (maybe I should read my Addendum more closely?) but it's terrific. Good work & my thanks to the authors & webmasters! "
Terry is still doing Real Estate in balmy Chapel Hill. He was the Greater Chapel Hill REALTOR-of-the Year 2007.
Check out his website on "Bypaths."

08/20/09:
Betty Swisler Hale sent along a clipping for Arnold Howe entitled "Mt. UM cleenup passes hurdle." Arnold was stationed at the Almaden Air Force Station which operated on Mt. Umunhum's summit. It now consists of 88 derelict buildings including homes, a gymnasium, garages and even a bowling alley where 120 Air Force personnel and their families lived. Total cleanup costs are estimated at $11 million. The House Appropriations Committee has approved $4 million to remove the buildings.
Betty writes " I am off for my second heli-hiking trip to the Canadian Rockies with two new knees to help me."

08/17/09:
Bill Beecher writes: "My third novel, The Acorn Dossier, focuses on caches of weapons hidden in the West by the Soviets during the Cold War in case it suddenly turned hot. A renegade Russian general unearths some nuclear suitcase bombs in secret caches in the US and threatens to explode them in American cities unless paid a huge ransom. Two hunter-killer teams--one led by the FBI, the other hurriedly dispatched from Moscow--race to find and eliminate the general before he can trigger a possible missle exchange between the two countries." Bill's new novel was published, on Aug. 15 and is now available on the internet and at Barnes & Noble bookstores.

08/14/09:
Bud Helfant reports the "Venerable Class of 1955" Facebook now has five members, Steve Banker, Gene Corbin (Hon.) Bud Helfant, Renny Little and Joe Martin. He hopes that other classmates will sign up.

Audry McKenna Lynch has published a book entitled "The Rebel Figure in American Literature and Film: The Interconnectedness of John Steinbeck and James Dean. (The Edwin Mellen Press)

David Wise sent along an article that appeared in the May, 2009 issue of the Bardian, a Bard College publication. Entitled "A Lion of Lang and Lit." It tells a compelling story about the inspiration and influence that Peter Sourian has had on students at Bard since he arrived in 1965. "Over that span Peter has taught courses that cover the literary waterfront -- the novel, poetry, short fiction, cultural reportage -- all of which echo his own multifarious career as a man of letters. If at times he appears to be an overly demanding taskmaster in the classroom, it is because he cares much -- about literature, about intellectual honesty, and about his students doing the very best work they are capable of." In 2000, Peter received the
Bardian Award, an honor bestowed upon veteran faculty members by the Bard-St.Stephen's Alumni/ae Association.

Dick Zwetsch has been elected Treasurer of the Harvard Club of Cape Cod. "I see various classmates at meetings, including Bill Hayes, Jarvis Hunt and Dick King."

07/21/09:
Roger Vaglia writes: "It looks like 2009 is shaping up to be a great garden year. We eat what we can, give to friends and take lots to the local food bank. So far we've enjoyed beets, beans, 3-4 kinds of lettuce, radishes, cukes, collards, squash (yellow, Sunburst and zucchini), turnips, tomatoes, onions, sugar snap peas, garlic, 4 kinds of peppers (hot, sweet, yellow, green), cabbage and arugula, Not quite ready yet, but looking good are kohlrabi, okra, egg plant, potatoes, more squash (acorn, butternut and spaghetti), sweet potatoes, kale and 2 kinds of Swiss chard, plus gourds and sun flowers. For me gardening is right up there with Yoga.
In addition to gardening Marilyn and I spent 28 days in May cruising from Fla to Europe where we visited 12 countries.Wonderful trip esp. St.Petersburg. I'm looking forward to joining Arena's tailgate army again this fall. (on a warmer day unless Ren loans me his coonskin coat.) Regards to all."

Rosemary Bonanno was honored by the City of Cambridge for her twenty years of service as a senior volunteer in the Harvard Square Churches Thursday Meal Program.

Audry McKenna Lynch's book Steinbeck and His Women was a finalist for the 2009 Penelope Niven Creative Nonfiction Award.

Evelyne Albrecht Schwaber celebrated her 50th reunion from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She was one of fifty members of the school's first graduating class, only 3% of whom were women. In contrast, there were close to 200 graduates of the class of 2009 and 57% of them were women.

George Swanson writes that at the Episcopal Church's General Convention, the House of Bishops concurred with a previous action by the House of Deputies and passed resolution C020 against torture in any location in the world. George was worried that the resolution would not include American jails, prisons and immigration detention centers.
"Needless to say I am deeply grateful to a great many people here at the General Convention whose decency and political wisdom caused this resolution to pass."

07/12/09:
Herb Appleman writes: "Just One More Song: Conversations With My Wife After Her Death hasn’t found a publisher yet, but it’s come close. As a result of the economic meltdown, publishers have drastically reduced the number of books on next year’s list. Still, they have to publish something, and I continue to hope that, one day soon, something will include Just One More Song."

06/27/09:
George Swamson's e-mail notes that his deceased wife Katrina "sure will be pleased. She'll have a booth at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Anaheim this July 8-17. The booth will support . . .
~ the Equal Rights Amendment
~ Anglican Women Theologians
~ Indigenous Peoples Rights
~ African children's education
~ Abolishing Torture in American Prisons.
Our convention resolution asks the US Congress to outlaw torture in American jails and prisons. "

06/26/09:
Frank Duehay and Jane Lewis spent Memorial Day and night visiting Harriett and Ross Clem at their home in Paris, Ohio. Frank said he and Ross, close friends in college, had hardly had time to talk in 54 years. 'It was one of the most pleasant visits we have ever had,' Frank said."

Jerry Murphy writes, "About to release the 13th edition of 'Metro Volk,' a major study of the North American Meeting Industry." Jerry has spent over 50 years as a research, marketing and management consultant.

06/17/09:
George Buehler had lunch with Marcie and John Amory recently at the
Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg AZ.

The Cambridge Art Association is displaying one of Malcolm Davis's "Sierra Nevada RR, Series" at 124 Mt.Auburn St., Cambridge, MA through the 26th of June. Classmates interested in an explanation of the series can go to "By Paths" on our website, to view his website or go directly to www.malcolmmontaguedavis.com. Malcolm is also working concurrently on a series based on the Gallery House in Santa Fe and one on "Class One Locomotives."

05/31/09:
Charles Butter (cbutter@umich.edu) writes: "Our children and grandchildren scattered (almost) to two ends of the earth - San Francisco and Israel. Still fly fishing, but not as often as I'd like. Hoping to have my book on art and the brain - Crossing Cultural Borders Universals in Art and Their Biological Roots - published before the end of the year. Hope to get to Boston this September in time to see a Red Sox game."

05/22/09:
Harvey Tattelbaum recently published a book entitled: "Tales of the Village Rabbi: A Manhattan Chronicle". It is available only on Amazon.com. (The "Village" is Greenwich Village!)

03/24/09:
Frank Duehay reports on the David Halberstam Street petition to the Cambridge City Council that "Last week the Report of the Council Committee was filed. It was simply a report of who said what at the December 9 hearing. The matter remains in Committee. Nevertheless since the Committee report was on the public agenda for the March 23 Council meeting, I took the occasion to speak (3 minute limit). I repeated the reason for the request and dealt with the opposing arguments that had been made There was only one other person who spoke on the issue, a former city councillor who has been hired by the Crimson to represent it, speaking against the proposal. Don't despair. It will eventually be settled. "

03/13/09:
Rob Leeson reports beautiful weather and good skiing in Taos, NM. "The Chatfields have been here, and we have enjoyed visiting with Charlie Anderson."
Rob called to note the death of Addie Closson on March 12th.

Audry Lynch contributed a chapter to a new book entitled "Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln: a Commemorative Collage."
It is the first book to be printed by Penwomen Press, recently founded by the National League of American Penwomen. Audry's chapter is a review of the book "Women in Lincoln's Life," by H.Donald Winkler. The Penwoman book costs $28 and is available at 1300 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.

03/03/09:
"Classmates Michael Greenebaum and Wally Bregman have collaborated with five other New Trier High School school friends (three of them Yale '55) to write a book about their lives. As it says in the press release: "
Seven Friends – Sixty years Later treats the reader to the stories of seven high school friends as they share their lives, their dreams, their accomplishments (or lack thereof) and the lessons that they’ve learned along the way. Aside from the captivating and varied content of the individual stories, this book offers an amazing window into coming of age and growing up in the latter half of the twentieth century.
At a fifty-fifth high school reunion, seven life long friends, known in school as the “ Beefeaters” (no one can remember why) decided to memorialize their lives by each writing a chapter for a book. Now, three years later, the resulting work Seven Friends – Sixty years Later is available to the public.
Our book is available via our website http://authorhouse.com/beefeaters or by calling 1-888-519-5121 or amazon.com, etc.

02/02/09:
Howard McElroy writes: "This past fall, a 5,800 mile road trip took us to Austin, Texas where we swapped sea stories with Ted Whatley." Howie notes that he is a "Retired Senior Factotum."

01/05/09:
Fred Church has moved to South Carolina to a community called Oldfield, (between Beaufort and Hilton Head) where he is enjoying the social life as well as quail hunting, sporting clays, fishing (sail fishing at Islamorada, Key West, Florida), golf, horseback riding, the beach in Hilton Head, and working out at Oldfield’s sports center.
“I have a small apartment in Chestnut Hill which I visit periodically for business and to see my kids and grandkids. Believe it or not, I still work at age 75 at Albert Risk Management. I have a small book of business including schools and serve as a consultant to the board of a small insurance company. I also did work in 2008 for the American School of Warsaw, Poland, NYU, St. John’s University and others.”

Georgiana Lewis Anderson writes: "I have returned from 18 days in Iran, a tour with 14 others from GB, Japan, Korea, Italy, France. Most Americans don't go there because they think it impossible. Young people in Iran all speak English, the older ones seldom do. We met the younger ones, and mostly girls, because 60% of college students are women. Young men have to do their 2 years of military duty and go to college afterwards.

"I understand the anxiety about Iran's threats against Israel, but I feel strongly, and not just because of this trip, that if we had a President who had bothered to have diplomatic relations with those with whom he disagreed, we'd all be better off and in a very different place financially, geopolitically and from a safety point of view.

"Everyone that we spoke to hoped that Obama would win the election. They hope to see a change of tone, as don't we all. The sanctions are hurting and oil prices are down. We didn't see obvious signs of this, but in many cities we saw construction halted, so a lot of the country looks as if it had been bombed. Our guide said this was because people took out loans, projects ran out of money, and new loans had not yet been approved.

"Our hotels were those approved for Westerners, so they were comfortable and well run. Food was ample and we had many chances to try Persian fare. We wore head scarves everywhere but in our hotel rooms. Dress is less restrictive than we had been led to believe, and the young Iranian women are certainly pushing the envelope. Older women seemed far more comfortable with their black chadors. A few of them welcomed us, smiling when they learned where we were from, reaching out to shake hands or just touching us.

"We went to many places, 7 cities, saw a lot of desert and ate some incredible pastries and delectable black dates. We didn't get a line on nuclear activity, though we passed close to Natanz. There are places I didn't see enough of (Persepolis, Isfahan) but I don't suppose I'll ever get back...."

Elinor Fuchs' documentary play, "Year One of the Empire," about the little-known turn-of-the-century U.S.-Philippine War, written in the late '60's as a Vietnam War protest play and published by Houghton Mifflin in 1972, has in the past year been brought back to life by the Iraq War. The play, co-authored with historian Joyce Antler of Brandeis, received its New York premiere at the Metropolitan Playhouse in March, 2009, and received a special pre-election reading at the New York Theatre Workshop in September.

Regina Gittes Greenspun notes that twenty-four Radcliffe classmates met on Cape Cod during a beautiful September weekend. As in the past, the Craigville Conference Center served as the venue for this mini-reunion. The highlight of the weekend was a visit to Patricia Worthington Bartlett's home in Truro, a home which was twice painted by artist Edward Hopper in the 1930's. The house, located on the bank of the Pamet River, remains essentially as it was in Hopper's time.

" I have temporarily left Washington D.C. and accepted a new job directing the arts at Wayne State University in Detroit. I am chairing the Department of Art and Art History, which includes the fine arts, studio arts, art history, interior design, industrial design, electronic arts, sculpture, photography, fibres, graphic arts, and print-making. It's a very large department with a faculty of 60, located in four buildings. Although it takes precious time from my research, I am beginning work on a new book which will be about the origins of wine in antiquity. I would love to see any Harvard-Radcliffe friends in the Detroit area."
Christiane L. Joost-Gaugier

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Last updated 11/15/09